Proceedings of the international symposium on efficient water use in urban areas : innovative ways of finding water for cities, 8-10 June 1999, Kobe, Japan

About 150 delegates from 45 countries participated in the symposium, primarily managers and decision/policymakers from national and local governments, senior managers of aid agencies, water supply authorities, urban-planning professionals, and representatives of international agencies and NGOs with an interest in efficient water use. The symposium was organised in order to: i. Increase awareness of the need for and benefits of efficient water use; ii. Compile available technology options for efficient water use; and, iii. Enhance the capacity of administrators and managers in the water sector and encourage them to adopt appropriate sustainable solutions. The symposium was divided into six sessions, and 26 papers were presented on various approaches for securing water through efficient use of existing water sources to avoid water shortages in urban areas. Presentations and discussions in each session covered the advantages, special features, and characteristics of each approach, including obstacles and barriers to be overcome. Themes included: Harvesting and Utilisation of Rainwater; Water Reuse for Non-potable Applications; Augmentation of Groundwater Resources through Aquifer Recharge; Leakage Control and the Reduction of Unaccounted for Water (UFW); Water Demand Management; and Integrated Approaches for Efficient Water Use.